Rain.
Whi-Two looked up at the dark, cloudy sky as rain began to pour, soaking her a bit too quickly for her taste. Lightning flashed in the darkness, and rumbling thunder soon followed. She brushed her wet hair back from her face. And just when things were starting to get better...
"Such poor timing..." the boy at her side muttered dejectedly.
She nodded in response. She didn't need to voice her complaints as well. A person who complained all the time was no fun to be around.
His coat was draped over her shoulders and she turned to looked at him. His auburn eyes were striking in the darkness. His brown hair dripping wet, plastered to his face. He smiled softly at her. He was strangely charming in the heavy rainfall and flashing lightning.
She looked away, her face flushing. Not that again. You don't like him!
"I guess we should go back. Unless you'd like to stand here in the rain?" His voice was as charming as his face.
Dang it, Whi-Two!
"Whi-Two?" His question told her she had been silent for an awkwardly long time.
"Yes!" She said too quickly, stiffening and straightening her shoulders. "Yes. Let's go back."
He offered her his hand, and—for reasons unknown to her—she took it. They walked down the rainy streets of Asperita, back to the school dorms, in silence. Whi-Two was still processing that her hand was in his, and he was warm.
"In an odd way," he spoke up after some time, "walking through the rain is... calming."
Whi-Two nodded again. "Yes. There's something about it, though—" a clap of thunder cut her off, and she winced in response. "—I could do without the thunder."
"Are you afraid?" He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I won't laugh if you are. There's nothing to be afraid of, I'm here for you."
If possible, her face grew warmer (and she was sure it was more red than it had been). A thought came to her and she risked a look at his face. "What about you? Do you have anything you fear?"
He hesitated and something changed in his eyes. She saw something besides his annoyingly cheerful persona, but it was gone in an instant and he tried to bury it with a laugh.
"Me?" he said as they reached the school grounds. "I fear nothing, Whi-Two."
"Nothing?" She blinked. That couldn't be true. Everyone had something they were afraid of.
He smiled at her again with his stupid charming smile. "Nothing."
They came to a stop at the girls' dormitory. They stood there, again in silence, doing nothing but looking at each other as Whi-Two wondered at her new discovery. But eventually, it occurred to her that she had been standing there too long and she should go inside.
Without thinking, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. He released her hand in surprise.
"Well then... goodnight." She waved an awkward goodbye and disappeared inside.
She walked all the way to her room, mentally berating herself for her stupidity. She slammed the door once she was safely inside, and repeatedly smacked her forehead against it. "Ugh! Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
She would never speak to him again. She couldn't. Why had she done that? Why in the world would she kiss him? Had she really done it? First she held his hand, then she kissed his cheek, then she told him goodnight. Had she really, really done all that to Lack-Two? The Lack-Two?
She would never talk to him again. Yes. That would fix it. That would fix everything.
The warmth of his jacket on her shoulders reminded her that, if she wished never to see him again, she had one last thing to do. Keeping the blue coat (that which every girl would know belonged to him) was dangerous. It was too warm, too comforting, and smelled pleasantly like him. She just couldn't keep it. No.
She banged her head on the door again, drawing her Foongus out of his peaceful sleep on her bed. "I should return it, shouldn't I, Foongy?" She groaned. "Stupid, Whi-Two."
Though, if she really wanted, she could have had someone else return it to him.
There was a hard truth in this scenario that she tried so desperately to ignore.
Outside in the rain, however, Lack-Two lingered awhile longer, looking at the door she had gone through. Reluctantly, he finally turned away, his heart pounding in his chest, and he wondered what was wrong with him.
"Oh, Whi-Two," he admitted to himself and the rain with a sigh, "what I fear is falling in love with you."